GCPH Readies for Another Active Mosquito Season

The Environmental Health (EH) team at Greene County Public Health (GCPH) has begun preparing for another active mosquito season. While the unusually cooler, wetter weather has delayed their emergence, it is still expected to be busy year of trapping and treating as part of our Integrated Pest Management strategy.

Public Health officials are especially concerned with an emerging mosquito-borne virus called La Crosse virus (LAC). The virus can’t be detected in mosquito samples and is only discovered when a person is symptomatic. La Crosse causes a condition called encephalitis, or swelling of the brain. The virus mostly affects young people under the age of 16. There are no treatments for encephalitis, only
supportive care. This is of special interest to GCPH because Ohio has the highest number of cases of LAC in the country.

The only treatment for LAC is prevention. This means wearing long sleeve shirts and pants, applying repellants, and avoiding mosquito-prone areas. Additionally, homeowners should inspect their property to remove any source of standing water in places like bird baths, clogged gutters, or swimming pools that aren’t maintained. For its part, GCPH is determined to reduce the risk of all mosquito-borne disease
by monitoring mosquito populations, treating wet areas with larvicide (to kill mosquitos before they get their wings), and to occasionally spray ULV (ultra-low volume) adulticide in known areas of heavy mosquito activity.

If you have any questions about the mosquito program or would like to report mosquito activity in your area, please don’t hesitate to contact the EH Team at 937-374-5682 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

RESOURCES
https://www.cdc.gov/lac/index.html
https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents
https://www.cdc.gov/lac/statistics/index.html#casesbystate